JRC scientists have put forward a set of rules for calculating the carbon footprint of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The proposal will inform the debate on setting Ecodesign requirements for PV panels and reduce emissions along their value chain.
Even though electricity production from photovoltaics (PV) is considered a low-carbon technology, the manufacturing of PV panels may be energy-intensive and may have different impacts on the environment. 
To achieve its decarbonisation goals – reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels and becoming climate neutral by 2050 – the EU aspires to boost deployment of “clean” solar energy while also guaranteeing a sustainable production of the panels generating it. 
The report Harmonised rules for the calculation of the carbon footprint of photovoltaic modules in the context of the EU Ecodesign Directive marks one of the first steps on the path to introducing mandatory carbon footprint requirements at product level. The method equips policymakers with evidence-based criteria to assess the carbon footprint of 1 kWh of electricity produced by PV panels, ultimately helping to drive innovation and market differentiation of cleaner solar technology.
As a major source of renewable energy, solar is experiencing an astounding growth: global solar installations in 2024 reached nearly 600 GW – a 33% increase from the previous year – and its share in overall electricity generation rose to 7%, doubling in just three years. 
Solar had the fastest rise among all power generation technologies, three times as much as wind power. As for the EU, in 2023 total electricity generation with solar amounted to 5%, with 271 GW generated with solar PV installations. According to the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan for green transition and massive investment in solar energy, the goal is to achieve 600 GW PV installed generation capacity by 2030.
With an oversupply of cheap, imported solar panels, and a tariffs’ dispute looming over global trade, enforcing carbon footprint requirements could help reframe the market towards a more sustainable supply chain.
The rules aim to standardise how carbon footprint is calculated along the lifecycle of PV panels. They are built using the Commission’s Environmental Footprint method and the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) of PV. The latter are specifically tailored to photovoltaic panels used in PV systems. 
The rules define a clear system boundary, starting from raw material extraction through to manufacturing and distribution, and set a consistent functional unit: grams of CO₂ equivalent per kilowatt-hour (gCO₂eq/kWh) of electricity produced.
The report presents carbon footprint results across several manufacturing scenarios. Depending on factors such as electricity demand and type used for production, silicon content panel lifetime, the carbon intensity of PV panels ranges from the most favourable 10.8 gCO₂eq/kWh, to the most carbon-heavy 44 gCO₂eq/kWh. 
The primary contributors to the carbon footprint of mono- and multi-crystalline silicon PV panels include electricity for manufacturing the silicon, silicon content, aluminium frame, and glass. In particular, the product lifetime plays a significant role in terms of the carbon footprint. This holds particularly true in a rather novel market as is PV panels, where the real impact of their waste at the end of the lifecycle is yet to be gauged.
The report provides a methodology to be applied in EU regulatory contexts, particularly – but not limited to – measures in the framework of the Ecodesign policy. Furthermore, the study calls for future research that could extend the harmonised method to other environmental impact categories beyond the carbon footprint, such as resource use and particulate matter. 
It also highlights the need to take evolving PV technologies into account – such as single-junction and silicon-perovskite tandem PV panels,  that will potentially be scaled up to commercial use.
As Europe works toward its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, harmonised carbon accounting for solar panels offers a vital tool to ensure that the growth of clean energy does not come at the expense of manufacturing sustainability.
Harmonised rules for the calculation of the carbon footprint of photovoltaic modules in the context of the EU Ecodesign Directive
Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC)
Environmental Footprint method
REPowerEU Plan
Assessing the carbon footprint of photovoltaic modules through the EU Ecodesign Directive
Deep dive on critical raw materials for solar photovoltaics in the EU
Share this page
Follow the European Commission

source